The national reporting performance for Epidemiological Week 23 has achieved a highly positive trajectory, registering 96.0% for reporting completeness and an encouraging 93.0% for reporting timeliness on the One Health Surveillance Platform (OHSP). This performance demonstrates the robust capacity of our integrated tracking systems to capture facility data with minimal informational latency. Out of the 33 designated national reporting sites, 85.0% (28 sites) successfully met the minimum target of >= 80% for both completeness and timeliness. This widespread platform adoption provides public health decision-makers with real-time situational awareness across the territory.

When evaluated against the previous historical baseline in Epidemiological Week 22, which achieved 95.8% completeness and 95.2% timeliness, Week 23 displays a general improvement in completeness but a minor drop in timeliness. Completeness rose by 0.2 percentage points, while timeliness fell by 2.2 percentage points. This positive trend was primarily anchored by Central Hospitals (100.0% on both metrics) and the South West Zone (99.5% completeness and 98.4% timeliness). However, administrative delays persist at the district level: Zomba DHO (72.0% completeness, 60.0% timeliness), Dowa DHO (73.0% completeness, 68.0% timeliness), and Balaka DHO (78.0% completeness, 78.0% timeliness) failed to surpass the reporting minimum targets of >= 80% for both indicators in the current cycle, presenting minor tracking blind spots. Additionally, Nkhotakota DHO and Karonga DHO failed to meet the minimum target for timeliness.

To address these remaining gaps and maintain optimal surveillance parameters, the National IDSR Secretariat recommends immediate administrative follow-up. Zomba, Dowa, and Balaka DHOs must prioritize targeted administrative interventions to resolve database entry delays. IDSR coordinators and Zonal Epidemiology Officers must ensure timely verification and validation of clinical data immediately after facility focal points submit weekly forms to safeguard platform responsiveness. Additionally, Nkhotakota and Karonga must focus specifically on improving timeliness.

Malaria remains the dominant priority clinical condition under active surveillance in Malawi, with Epidemiological Week 23 recording an immense burden of 30,305 cases (29,701 OPD and 604 IPD) alongside 1 associated inpatient death. This volume of clinical cases indicates intense transmission dynamics, placing constant pressure on primary care facilities, diagnostic laboratories, and essential antimalarial drug inventories. High-burden districts like Blantyre (3,324 cases), Chikwawa (2,024 cases), and Mangochi (2,638 cases) continue to represent key transmission hotspots requiring sustained public health intervention.

When contrasted with the previous baseline in Epidemiological Week 22, the malaria data reveals a downward trajectory in both morbidity and inpatient mortality. Total malaria cases decreased by 17.1%, dropping from 36,561 cases in Week 22 to 30,305 cases in Week 23. Confirmed inpatient deaths also fell sharply from 13 down to 1. This decline in fatal outcomes suggests improving clinical therapeutic timing or effective supportive inpatient protocols, yet environmental factors continue to support vector propagation across high-burden districts.

To address this transmission trend, the National Malaria Control Program must coordinate immediate antimalarial supply chain audits to ensure uninterrupted buffer stocks of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Clinical teams must conduct rigorous mortality audits on the recorded death to identify potential delays in administering intravenous artesunate. Concurrently, Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) must scale up risk communication campaigns to emphasize immediate care-seeking behaviors for all febrile illnesses.

The surveillance of waterborne enteric pathogens in Epidemiological Week 23 has flagged a significant clinical concern, with Typhoid fever cases recorded at 56 (36 OPD and 20 IPD) and Bloody Diarrhoea cases totaling 667 (663 OPD and 4 IPD). Waterborne disease transmission remains a persistent threat, highlighted by the recent enteric illness outbreak in Nkhatabay (Usisya Health Facility, T/A Mbwana), which cumulatively resulted in 131 diarrhoea cases, including 24 bloody diarrhoea cases, and 6 suspected deaths. Environmental risk factors in Nkhatabay include unsafe water sources, poor sanitation, and reliance on traditional medicine.

When compared to the baseline figures from Epidemiological Week 22, the enteric profile shows a significant downward trajectory. Bloody Diarrhoea cases fell by 7.6%, moving from 722 cases in Week 22 down to 667 cases in Week 23. Typhoid fever cases also experienced a decline, dropping from 60 down to 56 cases. The last reported cases for the Nkhatabay outbreak were recorded on 2 June 2026, and the last death was reported on 25 May 2026, indicating that the outbreak is currently stabilizing.

Based on these findings, we recommend that Blantyre, Mchinji, Dedza, and Kasungu DHOs deploy rapid response teams to conduct water safety interventions and targeted environmental monitoring to curb Typhoid. For the Nkhatabay outbreak, continuing risk communication, water safety interventions, and hygiene monitoring remain essential. Clinical teams must ensure stool and blood cultures are collected from suspected cases to monitor antimicrobial resistance patterns and guide precise therapy, while municipal authorities must prioritize water safety in hard-to-reach areas.

Epidemiological Week 23 recorded 126 suspected Cholera cases, of which 11 were laboratory-confirmed cholera cases and 115 were epidemiologically linked, alongside a commendable zero-death record. This stable survival rate reflects the high quality of supportive rehydration and prompt case management within established Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs). On the zoonotic disease front, Mpox surveillance detected zero (0) new confirmed cases and zero (0) alerts, keeping the cumulative national total stable at 158 confirmed cases and 4 cross-border cases since April 2025, with Lilongwe representing 75.8% (119 cases) and a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.63%.

A comparison with Epidemiological Week 22 shows that the Cholera outbreak experienced an upward trend in case reporting, climbing from 85 suspected cases in Week 22 to 126 cases in Week 23. On the Mpox front, transmission was completely inactive, dropping from 1 confirmed case and 2 alerts in Week 22 down to absolute zero in Week 23. Geographically, 26 of Malawi’s 29 districts have reported at least one suspected cholera case since the start of the season on 1 November 2025, with a national cumulative total of 776 cases and 5 deaths (0.65% CFR).

To counter this Cholera threat, the National Incident Management System must continue to direct emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources to high-incidence hotspots. Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) campaigns in selected hotspot districts have achieved a total of 612,477 doses administered (101.3% coverage). For Mpox, the District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) must maintain active cross-border screening and coordination with Mozambique and Tanzania to ensure any imported cases are detected and managed promptly.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presented 66 clinical cases and 1 inpatient death during Epidemiological Week 23. The severe respiratory burden continues to affect central districts, with Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) reporting 32 SARI cases (48.5% of the national SARI burden) and the only SARI-associated death. This consistent concentration highlights the need for continuous sentinel respiratory surveillance and clinical preparedness within tertiary facilities to handle sudden influxes of acute respiratory cases.

When evaluated against the baseline from Epidemiological Week 22, the SARI surveillance data displays a significant decrease in respiratory morbidity and mortality. National SARI cases dropped by 50.7%, falling from 134 cases in Week 22 down to 66 cases in Week 23. SARI-associated deaths also decreased, declining from 4 down to 1. Despite this positive trend, clinical teams must continue to monitor severe cases to identify seasonal respiratory pathogens such as Influenza A/B or RSV.

We recommend that clinical teams at Kamuzu Central Hospital and other sentinel hospitals continue to systematically collect nasopharyngeal swabs from SARI patients for PCR diagnostic analysis. Healthcare facilities must ensure that pediatric oxygen delivery systems, clinical nebulizers, and essential respiratory therapeutics remain fully functional. Furthermore, clinicians must continue to document and report SARI cases on the OHSP, allowing public health teams to identify and respond to any new respiratory anomalies quickly.

Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) surveillance remains a high-priority public health activity. From Week 1 to Week 23 of 2026, Malawi cumulatively reported 1,543 alerts, including 414 confirmed measles-rubella cases. Laboratory-confirmed measles cases totaled 287 across 23 districts, with Balaka reporting the highest proportion at 20.2% (58 cases) and Kasungu at 15.3% (44 cases). Under the IDSR framework, Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance recorded 14 cases this week, and Meningococcal meningitis recorded 6 cases, highlighting the need for sustained immunization coverage and active case searching.

When compared to Epidemiological Week 22, the Measles weekly alerts fell from 79 down to 48 cases in Week 23, reflecting a 39.2% weekly decline. Conversely, AFP alerts rose significantly from 4 to 14 cases, reflecting a major increase in weekly paralysis reporting. Suspected Meningococcal meningitis cases remained relatively stable, moving from 4 cases in Week 22 to 6 cases in Week 23. Polio outbreak containment remains a high priority following the confirmation of 16 environmental sewage isolates since January 2026.

We recommend that the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) continues targeting high-burden districts, particularly Balaka and Kasungu, with supplemental vaccination and outreach. For the 14 reported AFP cases, dual stool samples must be collected and sent to the laboratory under strict cold chain conditions. To prevent poliovirus spread, preparation for the upcoming Round 3 vaccination campaign (scheduled for 16-19 June 2026) must be prioritized alongside active community-level surveillance.

The national reporting performance for Epidemiological Week 22 has achieved a highly positive trajectory, registering 95.8% for reporting completeness and an outstanding 95.2% for reporting timeliness on the One Health Surveillance Platform (OHSP). This performance demonstrates the robust capacity of our integrated tracking systems to capture facility data with minimal informational latency. Out of the 33 designated national reporting sites, 90.9% (30 sites) successfully met the minimum target of 80% for both completeness and timeliness. This widespread platform adoption provides public health decision-makers with real-time situational awareness across the territory.

When evaluated against the previous historical baseline in Epidemiological Week 21, which achieved 95.6% completeness and 95.1% timeliness, Week 22 displays a general improvement across both surveillance domains. Completeness rose by 0.2 percentage points, while timeliness climbed by 0.1 percentage points. This positive trend was primarily anchored by Central Hospitals (100.0% on both metrics) and the South West and North West Zones. However, administrative delays persist at the district level: Balaka DHO 89.0% completeness and timeliness) and Karonga DHO (87.0% completeness and timeliness) showed improvements, yet Zomba, Dowa, and Karonga districts failed to surpass the reporting minimum targets of 80% for both indicators in the current cycle, presenting minor tracking blind spots.

To address these remaining gaps and maintain optimal surveillance parameters, the National IDSR Secretariat recommends immediate administrative follow-up. Zomba, Dowa, and Karonga DHOs must prioritize targeted administrative interventions to resolve database entry delays. IDSR coordinators and Zonal Epidemiology Officers must ensure timely verification and validation of clinical data immediately after facility focal points submit weekly forms to safeguard platform responsiveness during active outbreaks. Additionally, Mzuzu Central Hospital, Mwanza, Balaka, Nkhotakota, Mzimba North, and Salima must focus heavily on improving timeliness.

Malaria remains the dominant priority clinical condition under active surveillance in Malawi, with Epidemiological Week 22 recording an immense burden of 36,561 cases (35,837 OPD and 724 IPD) alongside 13 associated inpatient deaths. This heavy volume of clinical cases indicates intense transmission dynamics, placing constant pressure on primary care facilities, diagnostic laboratories, and essential antimalarial drug inventories. High-burden districts like Blantyre (4,343 cases), Chikwawa (2,857 cases), and Mangochi (2,711 cases) continue to represent key transmission hotspots requiring sustained public health intervention.

When contrasted with the previous baseline in Epidemiological Week 21, the malaria data reveals a downward trajectory in morbidity but a worrying spike in inpatient mortality. Total malaria cases decreased by 2.5%, dropping from 37,499 cases in Week 21 to 36,561 cases in Week 22. Conversely, confirmed inpatient deaths rose sharply by 225%, climbing from 4 up to 13. This synchronous increase in fatal outcomes suggests critical gaps in clinical therapeutic timing or severe clinical complications arising from delayed presentation across high-burden districts.

To address this rising transmission trend, the National Malaria Control Program must coordinate immediate antimalarial supply chain audits to ensure uninterrupted buffer stocks of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Clinical teams must conduct rigorous mortality audits on the 13 recorded deaths to identify systemic or clinical delays in administering intravenous artesunate. Concurrently, Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) must scale up risk communication campaigns to emphasize immediate care-seeking behaviors for all febrile illnesses.

The surveillance of waterborne enteric pathogens in Epidemiological Week 22 has flagged a significant clinical concern, with Typhoid fever cases recorded at 60 (53 OPD and 7 IPD) and Bloody Diarrhoea cases totaling 722 (717 OPD and 5 IPD). Waterborne disease transmission remains a persistent threat, highlighted by an active bloody diarrhoea outbreak in Nkhatabay (Usisya Health Facility, T/A Mbwana), which has cumulatively resulted in 133 cases, 24 bloody diarrhoea cases, and 6 suspected deaths. Risk factors in Nkhatabay include unsafe water sources, poor sanitation, and reliance on traditional medicine.

When compared to the baseline figures from Epidemiological Week 21, the enteric profile shows a significant downward trajectory. Bloody Diarrhoea cases fell by 8.4%, moving from 788 cases in Week 21 down to 722 cases in Week 22. Typhoid fever cases also experienced a sharp 46.9% decline, dropping from 113 down to 60 cases. Despite this national reduction, active transmission is concentrated in Lilongwe DHO (25 OPD, 3 IPD Typhoid cases) and Mchinji DHO (15 OPD, 1 IPD Typhoid cases), which requires immediate localized interventions.

Based on these findings, we recommend that Lilongwe and Mchinji DHOs implement targeted interventions against Typhoid fever. For the Nkhatabay outbreak, the rapid response team must continue active case finding, community awareness, and the distribution of 1% stock solution for household water treatment. Clinical teams must ensure stool and blood cultures are collected from suspected cases to monitor antimicrobial resistance patterns and guide precise therapy, while municipal authorities must prioritize water safety in hard-to-reach areas.

Epidemiological Week 22 recorded 85 suspected Cholera cases, of which 16 were confirmed cholera cases (1 lab-confirmed, 15 epi-linked), alongside a commendable zero-death record. This stable survival rate reflects the high quality of supportive rehydration and prompt case management within established Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs). On the zoonotic disease front, Mpox surveillance detected 1 new laboratory-confirmed case and 2 alerts, bringing the cumulative national total to 158 confirmed cases since April 2025, with Lilongwe representing 75.3% (119 cases) and a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.63%.

A comparison with Epidemiological Week 21 shows that the Cholera outbreak is stabilizing. Suspected cholera cases dropped significantly by 43.0%, falling from 149 in Week 21 down to 85 in Week 22, while confirmed cases fell from 25 to 16. On the Mpox front, transmission remains low but active, moving from 0 new cases in Week 21 to 1 confirmed case in Week 22. Lilongwe, Mangochi, and Ntcheu remain the primary geographic risk areas for zoonotic spread.

To counter this Cholera threat, the National Incident Management System must continue to direct emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources to high-incidence hotspots. In addition, CTU inventories of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), IV fluids, and rapid cholera tests must be restocked to prevent shortages. For Mpox, the District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) must investigate the 2 new alerts within 24 hours, enforce strict active border screening, and maintain cross-border coordination with Mozambique and Tanzania.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presented 134 clinical cases and 4 inpatient deaths during Epidemiological Week 22. The severe respiratory burden continues to heavily affect central districts, with Dowa DHO reporting 41 cases and 1 death, Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) reporting 41 cases and 3 deaths, and Mulanje DHO reporting 20 cases. This consistent concentration highlights the need for continuous sentinel respiratory surveillance and clinical preparedness within tertiary facilities to handle sudden influxes of acute respiratory cases.

When evaluated against the baseline from Epidemiological Week 21, the SARI surveillance data displays a minor increase in respiratory morbidity but a highly concerning escalation in clinical mortality. National SARI cases rose by 3.9%, climbing from 129 cases in Week 21 to 134 cases in Week 22. SARI-associated deaths doubled, rising from 2 to 4. This persistent level of clinical mortality highlights the circulation of seasonal respiratory pathogens, such as Influenza A/B or RSV, requiring immediate diagnostic and clinical attention.

We recommend that clinical teams at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Dowa District Hospital, and other sentinel hospitals continue to systematically collect nasopharyngeal swabs from SARI patients for PCR diagnostic analysis. Healthcare facilities must ensure that pediatric oxygen delivery systems, clinical nebulizers, and essential respiratory therapeutics remain fully functional. Furthermore, clinicians must continue to document and report SARI cases on the OHSP, allowing public health teams to identify and respond to any new respiratory anomalies quickly.

Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) surveillance remains a high-priority public health activity, with cumulative confirmed Measles cases holding at 287 across 23 districts in 2026. This week recorded 79 new Measles alerts, emphasizing the persistent transmission risk in hotspot districts, with Balaka reporting the highest proportion at 20.2% (58 cumulative cases) and Kasungu at 15.3% (44 cumulative cases). Under the IDSR framework, Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance recorded 4 cases, and Meningococcal meningitis recorded 4 cases, highlighting the need for sustained immunization coverage and active case searching.

When compared to Epidemiological Week 21, the VPD surveillance profile displays a general decline. Weekly Measles alerts decreased by 6.0%, dropping from 84 cases in Week 21 to 79 cases in Week 22. Weekly AFP alerts declined from 6 to 4, representing normal expected baseline surveillance sensitivity. Most significantly, suspected Meningococcal meningitis cases experienced a sharp reduction, dropping from 26 cases in Week 21 down to 4 cases in Week 22, returning closer to expected baseline thresholds.

We recommend that the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) immediately schedules targeted supplemental immunization activities (SIA) in Balaka and other high-burden districts to interrupt Measles transmission, with special attention directed to Balaka’s ongoing situation. For the 4 reported AFP cases, district coordinators must ensure that dual stool samples are collected and sent to the laboratory under strict cold chain conditions. To prevent further Meningococcal meningitis spread, healthcare facilities must maintain robust laboratory diagnostics and prioritize lumbar punctures for all suspected meningitis presentations.

The national reporting performance for Epidemiological Week 21 has achieved a highly positive trajectory, registering 95.6% for reporting completeness and an outstanding 95.1% for reporting timeliness on the One Health Surveillance Platform (OHSP). This performance demonstrates the robust capacity of our integrated tracking systems to capture facility data with minimal informational latency. Out of the 33 designated national reporting sites, all health zones successfully met the minimum target of 80% for both completeness and timeliness. This widespread platform adoption provides public health decision-makers with real-time situational awareness across the territory.

When evaluated against the previous historical baseline in Epidemiological Week 20, which achieved 95.0% completeness and 94.0% timeliness, Week 21 displays a general improvement across both surveillance domains. Completeness rose by 0.6 percentage points, while timeliness climbed by 1.1 percentage points. This positive trend was primarily anchored by Central Hospitals (100.0% on both metrics) and the Central West and South West Zones. However, administrative delays persist at the district level: Balaka DHO (72.0% completeness and timeliness) and Karonga DHO (61.0% completeness and 57.0% timeliness) both failed to meet the critical 80% threshold, presenting minor tracking blind spots.

To address these remaining gaps and maintain optimal surveillance parameters, the National IDSR Secretariat recommends immediate administrative follow-up. Balaka, Karonga, Dowa, and Zomba DHOs must prioritize targeted administrative interventions to resolve database entry delays. IDSR coordinators and Zonal Epidemiology Officers must ensure timely verification and validation of clinical data immediately after facility focal points submit weekly forms to safeguard platform responsiveness during active outbreaks.

Malaria remains the dominant priority clinical condition under active surveillance in Malawi, with Epidemiological Week 21 recording an immense burden of 37,499 cases (37,059 OPD and 440 IPD) alongside 4 associated inpatient deaths. This heavy volume of clinical cases indicates intense transmission dynamics, placing constant pressure on primary care facilities, diagnostic laboratories, and essential antimalarial drug inventories. High-burden districts like Blantyre (4,069 cases), Mangochi (3,155 cases), and Chikwawa (3,023 cases) continue to represent key transmission hotspots requiring sustained public health intervention.

When contrasted with the previous baseline in Epidemiological Week 20, the malaria data reveals an upward trajectory in morbidity but a positive decline in inpatient mortality. Total malaria cases rose by 8.3%, surging from 34,625 cases in Week 20 to 37,499 cases in Week 21. Conversely, confirmed inpatient deaths decreased by 50.0%, falling from 8 down to 4. This synchronous drop in fatal outcomes suggests improving clinical therapeutic timing and supportive inpatient protocols, even as environmental factors support vector propagation across high-burden districts.

To address this rising transmission trend, the National Malaria Control Program must coordinate immediate antimalarial supply chain audits to ensure uninterrupted buffer stocks of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Clinical teams must conduct rigorous mortality audits on the 4 recorded deaths to identify systemic or clinical delays in administering intravenous artesunate. Concurrently, Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) must scale up risk communication campaigns to emphasize immediate care-seeking behaviors for all febrile illnesses.

The surveillance of waterborne enteric pathogens in Epidemiological Week 21 has flagged a significant clinical concern, with Typhoid fever cases recorded at 113 (99 OPD and 14 IPD) and Bloody Diarrhoea cases totaling 788. Waterborne disease transmission remains a persistent threat, especially in urban areas with compromised water and sanitation networks. A notable geographic cluster remains centered in Blantyre DHO (51 Typhoid cases) and Lilongwe DHO (18 OPD and 11 IPD Typhoid cases), requiring immediate environmental health investigations to locate potential points of source contamination.

When compared to the baseline figures from Epidemiological Week 20, the enteric profile shows a mixed trajectory. Bloody Diarrhoea cases remained stable with a minor 0.6% increase, moving from 783 cases to 788 cases. Conversely, Typhoid fever cases experienced a slight 10.3% decline, dropping from 126 down to 113 cases. Despite this nominal national reduction, the severe concentration of Typhoid cases in Blantyre (45.1% of the national burden) indicates that waterborne and foodborne pathogens are actively spreading within specific metropolitan neighborhoods.

Based on these findings, we recommend that Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mchinji, Kasungu, and Dedza DHOs deploy rapid response teams to conduct systematic water quality monitoring and food safety inspections. Stool and blood cultures must be collected from suspected Typhoid cases to check for potential antimicrobial resistance patterns and guide clinical therapy. Furthermore, environmental health officers must distribute household water treatment chemicals and conduct hygiene sensitization campaigns in high-density markets to break enteric transmission chains.

Epidemiological Week 21 recorded 149 suspected Cholera cases, of which 25 were laboratory-confirmed (or epidemiologically linked) cholera cases, alongside a commendable zero-death record. This stable survival rate reflects the high quality of supportive rehydration and prompt case management within established Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs). On the zoonotic disease front, Mpox surveillance detected 2 suspect alerts, but happily, zero (0) new cases were confirmed, keeping the cumulative national total stable at 157 confirmed cases since the outbreak began in April 2025, with Lilongwe representing 75.8% of cases.

A comparison with Epidemiological Week 20 shows that the Cholera outbreak is evolving toward a highly concentrated phase with a much higher laboratory-confirmation rate. While the absolute number of suspected cholera cases declined from 255 in Week 17 to 145 in Week 20 and then rose slightly to 149 in Week 21, confirmed cholera cases declined from 84 in Week 20 to 25 in Week 21. This reduction in confirmed cases indicates that transmission is highly concentrated in hotspot districts, particularly Blantyre and Chikwawa. Concurrently, Mpox alerts remained stable at 2, with zero new cases confirmed.

To counter this growing Cholera threat, the National Incident Management System must continue to direct emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources to high-incidence hotspots. In addition, CTU inventories of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), IV fluids, and rapid cholera tests must be restocked to prevent shortages. While Mpox reported zero confirmed cases, the 2 new alerts must be investigated within 24 hours. Cross-border coordination with Mozambique and Tanzania must also be maintained to make sure any imported cases are detected and managed promptly.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presented 129 clinical cases and 2 deaths during Epidemiological Week 21. The severe respiratory burden continues to affect several central districts, with Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe reporting 37 cases and 2 deaths, and Dowa DHO reporting 53 cases. This consistent concentration highlights the need for continuous sentinel respiratory surveillance and clinical preparedness within tertiary facilities to handle sudden influxes of acute respiratory cases.

When evaluated against the baseline from Epidemiological Week 20, the SARI surveillance data displays a notable decrease in respiratory morbidity but stable mortality. National SARI cases declined by 22.3%, dropping from 166 cases in Week 20 to 129 cases in Week 21, while SARI-associated deaths remained stable at 2. This persistent level of clinical mortality highlights the circulation of seasonal respiratory pathogens, such as Influenza A/B or RSV, requiring immediate diagnostic and clinical attention.

We recommend that clinical teams at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Dowa District Hospital, and other sentinel hospitals continue to systematically collect nasopharyngeal swabs from SARI patients for PCR diagnostic analysis. Healthcare facilities must ensure that pediatric oxygen delivery systems, clinical nebulizers, and essential respiratory therapeutics remain fully functional. Furthermore, clinicians must continue to document and report SARI cases on the OHSP, allowing public health teams to identify and respond to any new respiratory anomalies quickly.

Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) surveillance remains a high-priority public health activity, with cumulative confirmed Measles cases rising significantly to 366 across 23 districts in 2026. This week recorded 84 new Measles alerts, emphasizing the persistent transmission risk in hotspot districts, with Balaka reporting the highest proportion at 21.9% (80 cumulative cases). Under the IDSR framework, Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance recorded 6 cases, and Meningococcal meningitis recorded 26 cases, highlighting the need for sustained immunization coverage and active case searching.

When compared to Epidemiological Week 20, the VPD surveillance profile displays a highly concerning escalation in Meningococcal meningitis and AFP. While weekly Measles alerts declined from 108 cases in Week 20 to 84 cases in Week 21, the cumulative confirmed Measles cases remained stable. Conversely, weekly AFP alerts doubled from 3 in Week 20 to 6 in Week 21, reflecting high surveillance sensitivity. Most significantly, suspected Meningococcal meningitis cases experienced a sharp surge, jumping from 7 cases in Week 20 to 26 cases in Week 21, demanding immediate laboratory investigation.

We recommend that the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) immediately schedules targeted supplemental immunization activities (SIA) in Balaka and other high-burden districts to interrupt Measles transmission. For the 6 reported AFP cases, district coordinators must ensure that dual stool samples are collected and sent to the laboratory under strict cold chain conditions. To prevent further Meningococcal meningitis spread, healthcare facilities must strengthen routine surveillance, prioritize lumbar punctures for suspected cases, and ensure immediate diagnostic sample collection.